The Department of Biblical and Ancient Studies encompasses the following disciplines:

• New Testament and Early Christian Studies – explores the New Testament text, early Christian literature, and the Graeco-Roman and Jewish contexts of early Christianity, together with various hermeneutical approaches.
• Old Testament / Hebrew Bible Studies – focuses on texts such as the Pentateuch, historical and prophetic writings, traditions, and the Second Temple period, when most of these texts were codified, while engaging with diverse approaches to interpretation.
• Biblical Archaeology – investigates the material remains of ancient cultures linked to biblical narratives.
• Ancient Near Eastern Studies – delves into the religions and societies of ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Levant, the world in which the Bible and related traditions emerged.
• Classics – examines the languages, literature, archaeology, and history of ancient Greece and Rome.

This department aims to establish itself as a leader in the fields of Biblical Studies and the exploration of ancient cultures and histories in Africa. To achieve this, we are committed to excellence through the continuous enhancement of our online teaching methods, ensuring accessibility and engagement for students worldwide. Moreover, the department prioritises the production of high-quality research, fostering collaborative projects with scholars both across the African continent and internationally, thereby contributing to the global discourse in these vital areas of study.

The History of the Department

In 1960, a Department of Theology was instituted at Unisa, which subsequently evolved to a faculty. In 1965, three sub-departments were established: the Department of Old and New Testament, the Department of Dogmatics, Ethics, and Practical Theology, and the Department of Church History, Missiology, and the Science of Religion. In 1984, the Department of Old and New Testament was divided into two stand-alone departments: the Department of New Testament and the Department of Old Testament. Biblical Archaeology has been taught at UNISA since 1976 and was also integrated into the two departments. In 2004, the department was merged with the discipline of Ancient Near Eastern Studies and Cultures; hence, it was renamed the Department of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies.  In 2005, the Department of Old Testament was joined by Semitics, which introduced three additional disciplines: Classical Hebrew, Modern Hebrew, and Judaica. 

In 2012, the Department of New Testament and Early Christian Studies merged with the Department of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies to form the Department of Biblical and Ancient Studies. The two former Departments constituted two academic units of the newly formed Department. The Department of Biblical and Ancient Studies was subsequently joined by Classics in 2014, which brought the disciplines of Ancient History and Classical Culture into the department.